One of the most important periods of American history is the Progressive-Era that happened between 1890 and 1920 when women were joining national organizations in high numbers. This was an era of significant social and political reform that focused on progressing towards a better society. Women played a significant role in advancing social and political change as they fought against the traditional roles attached to women. 1 The period saw millions of women joining civil organizations and using them to advocate for social and political reform that advance for equality. This paper discusses the Progressive-Era in the United States and the roles that women played in their success. It describes how women helped to establish foundations for gender equality through social movements and activism.
A look into women's activities during the Progressive Era shows how they were influential in changing the course of American history. At the start of the 20th century, society was confronting the effects of industrialization, urbanization, immigration, and a growing concentration of economic power. These issues were significant enough to produce fear in society on how wealth was undermining the traditional values of a society. 2 As a result, the progressive movement began when reformers desired to reduce the challenges brought about by industrialization and urbanization. The also wanted to make the government more responsive to its citizens. Women were at the forefront of this movement to ensure they secure human freedoms such as the right to vote, child labor laws, unions as well as safe working conditions. 3 These factors were accomplished when women reformers took their roles to influence social and political reforms by fighting for social welfare and equal right.
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The atmosphere of reform was based on the need to eliminate the social issues and challenges brought by industrialization and urbanization. They targeted corrupt representatives in office due to political corruption. The movement also focused on regulations of monopolies as a way of promoting fair competition and social reform. Progressive activists drew support from the middle-class individuals while borrowing hugely from success in Western Europe. 4 They also got a majority of their support from middle-class women who pushed for social reforms in areas of suffrage and prohibition. The General Federation of Women’s Clubs (GFWC) was in charge of coordinating the clubs that women formed, based on progressive-era policies.
Before the Progressive Era, women were associated with the traditional roles of raising a family and keeping the moral compass within the household. They were struggling with equality issues in all facets of life, such as in the workplace, at home, and as citizens. Women's efforts for equality could often be limited by the patriarchal society and the Victorian view of female roles. 5 The women did not have a right to vote in the election or sign personal contracts without the consent of their husbands the male-dominated views. Furthermore, society viewed women as emotionally and intellectually inferior compared to men, thus limiting their roles to household duties. As a result of this status, women wanted to address the societal problems through social and political reform that would redefine the role of a woman. 6
Women began speaking out against the laws that affected social equality during the Progressive Era, including laws that denied them the right to vote, own property, or abortion. They questioned the rethinking of marriage and sexuality as they craved for more freedom. 7 In this regard, women used the Progressive Era to fight for political equality and social reforms in America. 8 Progressives believed the American dream would only be achieved through a change of social and political laws to allow for equality. The Era paved the way for the civil rights and feminist movements which advocated for independence. The women engaged in individual freedom activism as they fought against the established societal norms. They championed women's right to limit the number of children in marriage as well as the legalization of birth control, giving women control over their lives. 9
Secondly, The Progressive Era was defined by the suffrage movement in the early 20th century. Suffrage referred to the right to vote and was one part of the broader efforts of women reformers. A right to vote was considered an initiative to fight political and commercial corruption and find solutions to social problems. 10 Suffrage was deemed to be symbolic of the broader struggle to recognize women's rights in the United States. Before the Progressive Era, most states in America held restrictions on voting for women, which meant they could not decide on who would be their leader. Governmental action in the form of constitutional amendment emerged as the first step to achieve this gender equality in voting that would recognize women as equal citizens. The 19th amendment marked the end of women's struggle for justice by ushering in a new era of human rights. 11
Progressiveness during these Era took the form of political and social reform, where women were advocating for the same rights as men. The period witnessed the formation of initiatives to fight political and social problems that existed in society. Several organizations were founded to help advance the message and fight social and political forms. They include the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA), National Association of Colored Women (NACW) and the National Association Opposed to Women Suffrage (NAOWS). All women regardless of their demographic backgrounds, participated in these social movements, which did not discriminate between socioeconomic backgrounds for participation. 12 Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton were pioneers of the women’s rights movement in the mid-19th century, setting a path for Progressive Era reformers who stepped up to fill their shoes.
At the same time, the Progressive Era was associated with muckraking journalism; which exposed unfair business practices, political corruption, corporate greed, social inequities, and reduced labor conditions. While the Progressive Era began by neglecting African Americans, muckrakers became prominent with attacks on black voter disenfranchisement, lynching, and Jim Crow America. 13 Ida Tarbell and Ida Wells-Barnett were famous for their crusade to end discrimination against Black Americans. The women played a crucial role in passing the child labor laws in the country that prohibited child labor.
During Progressive-era America, women formed several social movements intending to combat political and commercial corruption. They used these social movements to shape public policy and create institutions to change the societal perception of women. 14 They successfully influenced the passage of substantive legislation, including constitutional amendments. Women succeeded in changing society to embrace women equally as well as implement laws that protected women in the workplace. Furthermore, women assumed the roles of labor organizers during the Progressive Era, where they engaged in the labor movements. During the Progressive Era, several organizations such as the Socialist Party and United Mine Workers of America were founded to fight for equal labor rights. 15 In this time, the coal mining conditions were associated with poor working conditions, including low pay and lack of safety for its workers. This campaign saw them achieve minimum wage and maximum hours similar to men
Progressive Era reformers also played a role in advancing women's rights movements to attain equal rights in America. Women activists emphasized the unique contributions that women could add to dealing with social problems associated with industrialization. They began forming organizations and trade unions during the Progressive Era and used them to champion equal rights. The fight for women's rights to vote started way before the Progressive Era during the Seneca Falls meeting in 1848, but the dream was achieved after this period. Principal leaders such as Carrie Chapman and Howard Shaw took the mantle in the women’s suffrage movement and played a part in getting the 19th century passed that allows for the right of women to vote. 16
Another role of women during the Progressive Era was their influence in settling house workers in rural and urban areas by resenting societal restraints. Family structures had limited the freedom of many women, but they used this Progressive Era to defer the social norms and achieve personal satisfaction. Women used this Progressive period to develop into leadership roles in society and work with community members to end political corruption. 17 The settlement house movement also took place during the Progressive Era. Women believed they could campaign on behalf of poor women by unionizing them and empowering women to fight for equality. For example, the period led to an increase in the number of women who were hired into the US workforce and beat the inequality in employment. They also enjoyed other rights such as owning property, controlling their earnings as well as taking custody of their children during a divorce.
However, there were several issues during the Progressive Era that limited the roles of women. They include discouragements from the earlier generations, who objected to their participation in public political movements. They faced challenges from sections of the society who argued that women were less intelligent to make political decisions. Others opposed the proposal for suffrage rights by arguing that women will use the opportunity to gain other powers that would affect the social fabric of society. At the same time, some women held on the belief that politics were improper for women and that they cannot purport to be equal to men. 18
In conclusion, the Progressive-Era was an important historical period in American that influenced social and political reform in the country. Women were at the forefront in facilitating these changes through several roles and responsibilities. They formed social movements that advocated for equality while using activism to force the amendment of the law. 19 Women's politics have been dominated by abolition and ethical reform activities and intensified these activities during the Progressive Era. Progressivism was not a single movement, but different organizations are trying to accomplish their goals. In essence, the female activists that resulted in social and political change were based on maternalist politics, where they create new spaces in the government by emphasizing the traditional traits of women as mothers. Progressives believed the traditional roles of women such as mothers and caregivers complement women politics and can play a huge role in social activism.
References
Schneider, Dorothy, and Carl J. Schneider. "American Women in the Progressive Era." New York. Facts on File (1993).
Diner, Steven J. A very different age: Americans of the Progressive Era . Hill and Wang, 1997.
Stivers, Camilla M. Bureau men, settlement women: constructing public administration in the progressive Era (studies in government & public policy) . University Press of Kansas, 2002.
Crocker, Ruth. Mrs. Russell Sage: Women's activism and philanthropy in the gilded age and progressive era America . Indiana University Press, 2006.
Edwards, Rebecca. "Politics, social movements, and the periodization of US history." The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era 8, no. 4 (2009): 461-473.
Gould, Lewis L. America in the Progressive Era, 1890-1914 . Routledge, 2014.
Simmons, Christina, and Lora, Leigh. Making Marriage Modern: Women's Sexuality from the Progressive Era to World War II . Oxford University Press, 2009.
Nichols, Carole. Votes and More for Women: Suffrage and After in Connecticut . Routledge, 2013.
Yamin, Priscilla. "The search for marital order: civic membership and the politics of marriage in the Progressive Era." Polity 41, no. 1 (2008): 86-112.
Rich, Charlotte J. Transcending the New Woman: Multiethnic Narratives in the Progressive Era . University of Missouri Press, 2009.
Johnston, Robert D. "Re-Democratizing the Progressive Era: The Politics of Progressive Era Political Historiography." The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era 1, no. 1 (2002): 68-92.
1 Charlotte Rich. Transcending the New Woman: Multiethnic Narratives in the Progressive Era (University of Missouri Press, 2009).
2 Steven Diner. A very different age: Americans of the Progressive Era (Hill and Wang, 1997).
3 Carole Nicholas. Votes and More for Women: Suffrage and After in Connecticut (Routledge, 2013)
4 Rebecca Edwards. Politics, social movements, and the periodization of US history ( The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era , 2009)
5 Carole Nicholas. Votes and More for Women: Suffrage and After in Connecticut (Routledge, 2013)
6 Dorothy Schneider and Carl Schneider. American Women in the Progressive Era ( New York. Facts on File , 1993).
7 Christina Simmons and Lora Leigh. Making Marriage Modern: Women's Sexuality from the Progressive Era to World War II (Oxford University Press, 2009) .
8 Steven Diner. A very different age: Americans of the Progressive Era (Hill and Wang, 1997).
9 Ruth Crocker. Mrs. Russell Sage: Women's activism and philanthropy in the gilded age and progressive era America (Indiana University Press, 2006)
10 Christina Simmons and Lora Leigh. Making Marriage Modern: Women's Sexuality from the Progressive Era to World War II (Oxford University Press, 2009) .
11 Lewis Gould. America in the Progressive Era, 1890-1914 (Routledge, 2014)
12 Dorothy Schneider and Carl Schneider. American Women in the Progressive Era ( New York. Facts on File , 1993).
13 Carole Nicholas. Votes and More for Women: Suffrage and After in Connecticut (Routledge, 2013)
14 Dorothy Schneider and Carl Schneider. American Women in the Progressive Era ( New York. Facts on File , 1993).
15 Lewis Gould. America in the Progressive Era, 1890-1914 (Routledge, 2014)
16 Carole Nicholas. Votes and More for Women: Suffrage and After in Connecticut (Routledge, 2013)
17 Steven Diner. A very different age: Americans of the Progressive Era (Hill and Wang, 1997).
18 Rebecca Edwards. Politics, social movements, and the periodization of US history ( The Journal of the Gilded Age and Progressive Era , 2009)
19 Ruth Crocker. Mrs. Russell Sage: Women's activism and philanthropy in the gilded age and progressive era America (Indiana University Press, 2006)
